Helicopters, Soldiers, and Swine Flu (Part 2)

So the president of Mexico was in town and that explains some of the helicopters. The Mexican army thought it would be a good idea to stage exercises in town without telling anybody in the middle of an international health crisis. Good planning as usual. People are pretty calm for the most part though. At least in Oaxaca. I think people have a pretty realistic grip on the situation at this point. Of course the situation could change and change people's reactions. The US can be a pretty hysterical place at times (I mean, half the country believed the fairy tale that Iraq had something to do with 9/11 - what?). From what I can tell, people are freaking out more outside the country. As I said before, the people here are really freaked out about the economic impact. And I feel terrible for them. I know a lot of really hard-working decent people here who happen to have a shitty government that contributes greatly to the economic situation. And I am taking this whole thing somewhat personally as a result of some of the people I have met and the friends I have made - they don't deserve it. And some are going to lose businesses over this.



Speaking of hard-working, these aren't people I know but I watched these people set up their stalls to sell crafts, art and clothing etc. in this little park. Actually I watched them tear down their stalls one night and then decided to go watch them set up one morning because I knew that what they did took an astronomical amount of work every day and I wanted to see. I couldn't believe how long it took them to take down the metal frames for the structures (tent like booths that are not light). It was 9 PM when they started to tear them down and then I walked by and it was 11 PM and most were getting close to finishing. So I went the next day to watch them set up and they started at 8 AM and are up and running (after a difficult set up) by 10 or 11. So they work 12-14 hours and some days don't even make a sale. On a good weekend day, they may make $10. That's a good day. It isn't for lack of effort, that's for sure. Now they can't work at all. These people are on the brink. Can you imagine worrying about how you were going to eat? I can't. We're all very lucky. It makes me lament all those people who inherit money or family businesses or whatever and delude themselves into thinking that they have "done it on their own" or that there is such a thing as a free market. Think again. If anyone happened to be born here to the same families, he or she would be doing the same thing. We all would be. We are not smarter or harder working - just luckier. That includes me. Anyway, it's about t0 get.....um.....real interesting.

The soldiers rolled back into town today in force. Lots of troop carriers and more helicopters. Not sure if this is more "practice" or what. They aren't telling anyone. Not one dose of Tamiflu to be found in the Farmacias either. Sold out. The cops and social workers are distributing masks. I was thinking about heading to Peru but I can't get into the country. I was also thinking about renting a car and driving to the coast to hang out and surf and kind of be in a less-populated area but things are changing so fast, we may not be able to rent a car. The president is essentially shutting down the country for five days and all non-essential businesses could be closing although I think that rumor may be dead. The streets are becoming more and more deserted every day. I suspect it will be a ghost town tomorrow. I think my school may shut down. I need to go talk to the director and find out but I am almost certain we will be shutting down.